Tecumseh wrestling rolls to 11th straight district crown

The Tecumseh High School wrestling team rolled to the Division 2 team district title at Adrian High School Thursday. The title was the 11th straight district championship for Tecumseh.

The Indians took the trophy with a 57-16 win over the Milan Big Red in the final. In the semifinals, Tecumseh beat Adrian 66-13, while Milan pinned Carleton Airport 48-21, to gain a measure of revenge for a dual meet loss two weeks ago.

In the last four bouts of the championship match, Tecumseh, ranked sixth in Division 2, got first-period pins from Landon Pelham at 189 pounds, Preston Pelham at 215, Joe Rebottaro at 285 and Rickey Azelton at 103.

Coach Tony Greathouse said his team has been a little banged up lately.

“We’ve been depleted the last couple of weeks, but we are starting to get everybody healthy again,” he said. “We are starting to get everybody back in time for the tournament run.”

Milan took an early lead when Cameron Elam took a 13-4 major decision over Nick Wyatt at 112 pounds. Jake Hilton got a void at 119, and Luke Liuzzi got a first period pin ar 125 to put the Indians up 12-4.

The Big Red took decisions in two of the next three matches, before Tecumseh’s depth asserted itself with pins from Anthony Lesko at 145, Travis Byrd at 152 and Cole Amstutz at 160. After Ben Fick won a void for Milan at 171, Tecumseh closed out the title with their second run of pins.

Tecumseh will host the team regional next Wednesday and face the winner of the Romulus district.

In the semifinals, Azelton notched a pin, and Adrian’s Joe Garcia won on a void in the first two matches for a 6-6 tie. After Anthony Garcia won a decision over Hilton at 119, Liuzzi got a first-period pin for Tecumseh at 130.

When Avery Cantu won a decision at 135 for the Maples, the score was 18-13 for Tecumseh. The Indians then ran the table, with five straight pins and two voids at the upper two weight classes.

Adrian finished the season with a 5-17 dual meet record, while Tecumseh improves to 28-12.

Maples coach Brandon Chesher said the score was pretty much what he expected.

“We are down a bit this year, but they are one of the best teams in the state. Our numbers are down, and we’ve got a lot of young guys,” he said. “Anthony did well in his first time at 119. I think he’s got a good shot at a state championship.”

Adrian and Tecumseh wrestlers will compete Saturday in the individual district at Carleton Airport.